The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-02
KILLED IN THEIR SLEEP.
AN EXPLOSION IN A CELLAR DE-
MOLISHES A BUILDING.

ST. LOUIS, Nov IA flash, followed by
a dull roar and then a crash of walls, con.
,used the centre of this city at , o'clock
this morning, and the clatter that followed
told of horrible calamity that had befallen
three families while wrapped iu slumber.
An explosion of gasoline in the rear of the
CELLAR of Michael Newman's grocery store,
ot No. IS South Fourteenth street, had lifted
the twostory building from its foundations
and dropped it back again in mass beneath
which were buried over a dozen persons.
They were
Michael Newman, aged 50 years.
Mrs Annie Newman, aged 40 years
Miss Mamie Newman, aged Is years.
John Newman, aged 16 years.
Nellie Newman, aged ID years.
Kate Newman, aged II years.
Eddie Newman, aged l3 years.
Charles Devere
Mrs Charles Devere.
Miss Hattie Brown, of Columbus, KY,
bruised about the lower limbs.
Charles Eifard.
Miss Patty Bryant.
Mrs Bazeley.
FIRE IN THE RUINS.
The explosion had scarcely wrecked the
place before a devastating fire swept
through the ruins. Aid was quickly on the
scene but in such confusion that the horror
seemed to increse with their efforts to re-
lieve the imprisoned victims. The people of
the neighborhood were dumbfounded.
Many bruised and none in their normal
state ran about te streets seeking friends
or moaning f--m their bruises The heat of
the flames that had swept down upon the
ruins baffled the efforts of the firenlen, who
had begun systematic work and
for few minutes bid fair
10 spread to adjoinias property,
but good work won and then ~ N a search
for the dead. The store was on the corner
of an alley running through from Four
teenth to Torgee street, and was the north
room of the building, covering Nos. 2, Z, 3
and II Fourteenth street
NEWLY BUILT.
The building, a two-story brick, was COM
pleted but short time ago and only one
store room was occupied Mr.. Newman
and his family of seven lived over the store.
The force of the explosion was terrif>. The
entire block of buildings north OF and across
the alley from the building in which the eX
plosion took place were guttod by the blast.
The Newman block crushed in was covered
by roof which had settled down upon the
ruins and formed barrier through which
walls impeded their progress and threaten
ing walls ON either side overhung- ready to
crush the gallant men who pressed to the
spot where a call for help directed them
FINDING THE VICTIMS.
The roof was soon removed and in the de-
bris were revealed the mangIed forms of the
grocerymans family. Two girls New
mans, daughters were first removed,
Mamie, IS years Of age, was still alive, but
mangled by the timbers and charred by the
fire was beyond hope of recovery. Her
sister, Nellie. girl of Is years, moaned
piteously for her sister For the half hour
efforts had been to draw near each other,
when they saw escape impossible. Neither
can survive. The rest of the Newman fam
lily were dead. Some sat upright and the
others were doubled up in their beds. Life
had evidently fed while they were
wrapped in slumber. In the same building
over the storeroom No. lived Charles
Devere, a travelling salesman, and his
wife.
THE ONLY SURVIVOR.
Visiting them was Miss Hattie Brown, of
Columbus, KY She was badly injured,
but nliraculously escaped death. She is the
only person vino passed through the horri-
ble ordeal and lives to tell story of escape
She awoke to find herself buried beneath
heavy timberS somewhere against the wall.
She was unable to tell where she was
thrown, but when her eyes opened she be-
held thrilling scene that had all the effects
of a horrible dream. On one side wall of
fire reached to the sky, and while crashing
tlmbers and the clatter of iron caused
storm of dangerous missiles to fly about her
mead. the screams of those in adjoining
buildings rang in her ears, and as she real
lZpd hnr cif1atlnn Sha almost fainfnH hIIt
nerved to a last desperate struggle by the
groans of the dying, she essayed to escape,
but found her efforts batiied at every turn.
HELD DOWN BY DEBRIS.
She was firmly pinned by beam across
her thigh, and an iron rod over one ankle.
She could not tell what means she employed
10 get out, but as she twisted and struggled
III vain the fire was blown toward her until
her long black tresses were scorched, and
me odor OF burning meat penetrated her
lungs and almost suffocated her.
Relief appeared hopeless, and just as she
sank back in despair the ruins.settled down,
and the over hanging timbers were raised
from the limbs which had been held in a
deadly embrace. No time was to be lost
as the fire pressed close around her. With
an extraordinary effort Miss Brown sprang
10 her feet and staggering, falling and roll
ing, she made her way blindly through the
ruins.
SAFETY AT LAST
Again and again she fell and, as she says,
her strength was completely exhausted and
She stumbled forward, falling headlong into
an open space, where she lay unconscious
Tor few minutes She was restored by
cool breeze that brought the blood to her
6raln and she again rose to her feet, only to
md herself in the comparative safety OF
small rear yard Then she ran to a neigh
nors house and climbing through the bal
cony sank down in a swoon. The nelghbor
round her there and carried her into the
street, where she was given u skirt and
some clothing She paid no attention 70
me kind offers of friends, but went dowh to
tne scene and remained there in agony,
eagerly scanning the charred and bruised
races as the firemen carried the victims
from the huge heap of splintered material.
FATE OF THE BAzELEYs.
Over store room No. II resided Mrs Bry'
ant with her daughter, Miss Hattie. with
Them were the two Bazeleys, Charles +. and
Mrs, Bazeley. The last named was buried
10 deeply in the debris that the search for
HeT was given up until others were removed:
Charles Eifard was taken out alive, but
uied on the way TO hospital.
Miss Bryant was bruised, but heavy
head of hair protected her. and her injuries
are not dangerous An unknown man of
20 Years was found in the debris and re-
moved to the morgue. Besides those injured
IN this building, many persons in the neigh
norhood were more or less cut and bruised